Garment bag



W. STERN GARMENT BAG May 19, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 5, 1949 1N VEN TOR.

- Wade/f fie/72;.

BY m y mv May 19, 1953 w, STERN 2,639,028

GARMENT BAG Filed Nov. 3, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g INVTOR. Wa/Z'er flier/z, BY QM Patented May 19, 1953 GARMENT BAG Walter Stern, Chicago, 111.,assignor to The Cramwell Paper Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation 'of Illinois Appucamnmmm 3,1949, SerlalNo.125,215

The present invention relatesto a garment bag. The invention is primarily concerned with the very inexpensive bags which are used by dyeing and cleaning establishments, retail stores and the like for enclosing garments that are to be delivered to customers; or which may be purchased for home use. Usually, these bags are made of paper, but they may also be made of treated fabric, plastic or the like, particularly those purchased for home use. I I

The general object of the present invention'is to provide an improved construction of garment bag which is substantially moth-proof, or dustproof, or both. v f

A further objector the invention in this regard is to provide a garment bag wherein an improved arrangement of overlapping sealing flaps effectively closes a top central opening of the bag around the shank of the clothes hanger on which the garment is supported.

A still further object in this regard is to provide an. improved construction in which these overlapping sealing flaps for sealing the'top central opening around the hanger shank are formed as integral parts of the'bag. This reduces the .cost ofthe b'ag., It also insures that the overlappingsealing flaps, prior to beingfastened or pasted down, are permanently held in proper fixed relation to the top central opening in the bag, whereby the operation offastening or pasting the" sealing flaps'down around the hanger shank is simplified, because'it does notjre'quire any positioning or locating of the flaps relatively to the top central opening.

Another object of the invention in this regard is to have the sealing fiaps'fold' along sloping shoulder 'lines'so as to cause the flaps to cross each other in overlapping relation across the front of the top central opening for obtaining a tighter fit around the hanger shank, irrespective of whether the hanger is of the'wire type with a verysmall shank or of the cardboardtype with a relatively wide shank.

; Another object of the invention isto provide aireenforcedsloping shoulder construction inthe top of the bag, which is particularly advantageous in the case of a paper bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide abag -ofthe above general description in which the flaps or closure parts for closing both the top andbottom of the bag are integral parts of the bag, so that no separate closing element, such as a cambric tape attachment, is necessary.

" Another object is'tojprovide a bag 'made from g f r oi.,- s ee. sesame; empire 5 Claims. (o 206-7) 2 all waste of stock in blanking out the form fro a continuous strip of the stock material.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detail description of one preferred embodimentthereof. In the accompanying drawings illustrating such embodiment; x A v v Figure 1 shows the step of; cuttingthe original blank from flatstock; i

Figure 2 shows the alternative step of cutting the originalblank from tubular stock; Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the flat or tubular blank at that step in the manufacturing process when the front and back portions of the bag have been formed or joined, but the sloping shoulder flaps have not been turned down and fastened; 1 Figure 4 is a fragmentary, elevational and sectional view showingthe next step of folding down and fastening the sloping shoulder flaps;v Figure 5 shows approximately the condition that the bag is in when it is delivered to, the dyeing and cleaning establishment, retail store or thelike, this figure showing one of the hanger sealing flaps folded down and the other standing up for clarity of illustration;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the fin ished garment bag sealed over a garment and wire garment hanger; I I f Figure 7 is a detail, sectional view taken ap proximately on the plane'of the line of Figure 6; 'and Figure 8 is a detail, sectional view taken ap;-"

proximately on the plane of the line 8 8 of Fig ure 6.

Referring first to Figure 1, showing the initial step of cutting the original blank from a con tinuous strip of stock material, the dotted area designated FS fragmentarily illustrates flat stock material from which the successive blanks B are cut by transverse cutting'operations'. The upperv edge of each cut'blank B is defined mainly by" a transverse line of'cutting I, I, and the bottom edge of this blank, designated 2, 2 is synonymous or identical with the, line of cutting I, I, being the same line of cutting, but designating the topand bottom edges of each blank; Projecting upwardly fromeach upper edge I, I'

is a tongue or flap portion 3 having parallel side edges 4-4 and a top edge 5, the side edges 4 being set inwardly along the main line of cutting I, I. The cuttingofthis flapnecessarilyresults 6 correspond, of course, with the parallel side edges of the tongue 3 at the top edge of the next succeeding blank. It will be observed that each blank B comprises three panel areas to wit: the relatively wide central panel 8, having a width represented by the transverse dimension between the line 4+! on one side and the line 4-4 on the other side; and the two side panels 9;; and 9b, each extending from the line 4"'! outwardly to the adjacent side margin of the sheet. The side panels 9a, 9b are both of the same length as the central panel 8 but are longitudmally staggered or oilset in a downward direction relatively to the central "p'ar'i'll The tongue or flap 3 projecting upwardly "at the upper edge of the blank forms the main part of the top closure flap dor ifihe top of the garment bag. Correspondingly, those lower pore tions of each side panel area extending down below the central panel-area constitute what I swam term "halfiisips m and TH), tor closing the bottom-'n'd ol the' garmentbag, these two half flaps combining to *forin 'a complete run fiap exten ing across the width 6f the bag. 7

additional mittii ig ope-audits are performed at the iilfil r edge of "the fiat bl'ankEB while it is in the flat condition. These additional cutnag migrations 'ii'i'luie th'e =ciitting o'f a vertical slit ,I2 downwardly through the heater of the top fiap *3 to an-aperture f3. "rues-e additional cutting operations also include the cuttmg of two' la terally disposed arcu'ate s'lits '14, T4 to each side oi the vertical slit --F2, "these three slitsfl 'i', f and *F l defining 'therbetween twe sealing flaps a and 1 522, which iarefiadapted to "be "closed new around "the shank of the garment hanger in overlapping relation, as will be pie 'sently "described. "will be "noted that the *a'r'cuate side slits "I' l, 7H extend down into the body of the panel *'8 below the level "of the inaim'cutting line tl, -I. The 'cutting of the 'slits T2, t4, l fan'dhole w an-b jperrormeasi uitarieodsly with the "operation or cutting "the blank out of "the il'at "stock along 'the "cutting lines "I, 1, etc 'or this operation "O'Pcuttin'g the slits and hole can be fperfo'rm'ed as 'aseparate operation after the "blank has been cut "out 'of the continuous strip stock. When the bag is of the type adapted to be sealed' byithenioistenmg of "dry "adhesive surfaces "on the bag "and siibsequent pasting --'of "the surfaces against adjacent portions of the bag, this drly type of adhesive, such as inucilage or the like, is "applied across "the entire area of the top flap 3,

so indicated at H, and across the entire areas I of "the "two lower half-flaps I la and ltilb, as indicated at re. The adhesive rc'r framing the overlapping edges .df "the Fsid'e panel lportions "9e and 9b nay be applied "at "this itinre; or applied in. a separate pasting fop'e'ration ,perroriaeu simultaneously with the gaming "or the blank.

f 'lfhe plank is then folded into "tl'ie "bag form illustrated "in Figure 3, in which the "back r the bag is :defined by the central "panel portion 8 off'thebl'a1ik,andthe fi 'ont er the "bag "is defined by tlieftwo "side panel portions 9c and 9b of the blank, the latter being folded over a'cros sfth'e "mm of "the central panel portion. This "folding occurs along the vertical lines defined "bythe*v"e1ftica1 dgs 4, 'l'iof'f the upper rohgue anu lower recess, such folding lines con- Stituting "side folded "edges designated f'fl in Figure 3. one tiftlie side paneljport'ioris "oven laps'theptlier, 'and'these overlapping eiiges are itlhesively "joined together at 9c,"'therby comstock, as I shall now describe connection with Figure 2. This tubular stock is indicated at T8 in Figure 2, being in the form of a continuous strip or ribbon but being of two-ply tubular form, obtained by folding wider single- 7 ply stock over along the longitudinal center line and adhesivl y .joining the free edges of the "two plies together.

trated in Figure 2.

v This pasted edge of the two-ply stock is indicated at in Figure 2.

Successive blanks B are cut out of this tubularstock TS by transverse cutting operations illus- A transverse line of cutting l extending in from the pasted edge of the tubular stock, and a transverse line of cutting "5 "extending in from the folded edge "of {the tubular stock, are Lioin'ed by a longitudinal line of cutting 4. This results -in bag blanks having the same general outline as the blanks -B Figure -1, namely, having the upper tongue 'or flap 3, and having the lower recess "6 "and downwardly extending half-naps Ha and l'lb. 'In otherwords, the bl'a'nks'B' but out (if tubular stock are identical with the blanks "B *cut out dfii'at' "stock, "except that the flat stock blanks must be "folded along the folding lines ""4, "I, and "the front panel sections pasted together, Whereas the tubular stock blanks must first be unfolded from the folded condition of the tubular stock; and then refolded along the lateral folding lines "4, I. The cutting of the longitudinal slit l'-2, hole 13 and .arcuate *slits 1'4 can be performed simultaneously "with the operation of cutting the blank out of the tubular stock, or these slitting operations can be performed "asflater steps in the process. The applying of the adhesive l7, M to the 'upp'er and lower 'fiap are'a's is preferably performed upon the blank B after this blankfh'asbeenunfoldeli from its'tubular 'stock form andrefoljded into the "bag fforin illustrated in Figure 3. "Thus,- theform 'ofbag shownin Figure 3 canbema'd'e optionally either from flat stock "blanks B "or Y frohhtllblilal stdckBIHZIIKSB'. IIl'bOth instances,

the top -iiaps 3 and ftheflower "half-flaps Na and fill-b consist of "integral parts of the "bag material. As previously stated, in most instances this bag inaterial will be of paper, but it might'also consist of a treated 'fa'bric,iplas'tic or any other desired flexible material.

Referring now to the-arrangement -iorclosing the top of the garment lb'ag thus -'Jforine'd from the'blarik B or B'., it t'v'ill'be. seen 'irom Figur'es 3-7 that when the "two -sealingilaps l ia, il'filb extend upwardly, as shown inFigures -3Land 14; they provide atop central opening in the bag, indicated at 2i. This top central .open'irigfi'l is just or ,su'flicinti size lto readily pass the upper hook' enjd'Hl of aIhanger-H. fInFiguresfi andi, I have illustrated a, wire hanger, but it will be understood that thi's'mightbea cardboard hanger, the-upperhook end of which could also passfup through "the "'top central opening 2!. The topo'f 'th'ega'rm'ent bag, to left "arid-right of thl's"top central opening 21, is a'daptecl"to be *clo'sedby *shou'lderfiaps lite-and 22b. These shoulderfiap s 22a 'andflbliold "diagonally down acrossithe front 'of"'the "finished bag along the s'l'dpm'gffdlditlg "O1" crease lines indicated by the aqsaoas dotted lines 23a and 1317. When the shoulder flaps are thus folded down along these diagonal vlines, the adhesive under side I! of the top flap is adhesively united to the front surface of the left and right panels 9a and 81)! for sealing the entire top of the bag with the exthicknesses of material along the top edge of the closed bag serve to strengthen or reenforce this top edge against the possibility of the wire hanger H being torn out through the top of .the bag, which is a particularly desirable feature in the case of a paper bag. The arcuate slits l4, M which define the outer edges of the of the bag.

The bag can be sold to dyeing and cleaning establishments, retail stores, etc; in the form shown in Figure 3, where both the top and the bottom of the bag are entirely open. However, I deem it a preferred practice to fold the shoulder flaps 22a and 22b downwardly over the front of the bag and secure them to the front panel portions. The bottom of the bag would, of course, remain open for the insertion of the garment into the bag from the bottom end, and the overlapping sealing flaps Ilia and l5b would also remain open so as to'enable the hook of the garment hanger to pass out through the central opening 2|. In commercial establishments it is the customary practice to draw the bag down over the garment from the top of the garment down, so that sleeves, pocket flaps and other like portions of the garment will always be pressed downwardly into their proper positions. Thus, the garment is placed upon the hanger H, hooked to an overhead supporting wire or rod, and the bag is pulled downwardly along this supporting rod to have the open bottom of the bag pass down over the garment and hanger H. The shank HI and hook H2 of the hanger then pass out through the top cen- "tral opening 2| of the bag. The top sealing operation is then performed by folding the central sealing flaps I 5a and [5b downwardly and laterally along the folding or crease lines 23a, 23b, the first flap being pasted to the body of the bag, whereupon the other sealing fiap is then folded downwardly in overlapping relation to the first sealing flap, and is pasted thereto, as shown in Figure 6. It will be observed that because these two central sealing flaps [5a and |5b fold downwardly along the inclined folding lines 23a and 2317, they necessarily fold across the center line of the bag, 1. e. they fold across the line of the aperture I3, as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. This results in the two sealing flaps being brought into snug fitting, overlapping relation around the shank HI of the garment hanger, whereby they eflectlvely seal the top central opening 2| and also seal the small aperture [3 around the wire shank of the hanger, so that vermin, such as moths, cannot gain access to the has around the shank of the hanger. iThis isalsotrue in the case of a cardboard hanger,-in which case thetwo central sealing flaps I50 and 15b would also fold diagonally downwardly in overlapping relation, but with their upper portions spaced apart slightly more to accommodate the greater width of the cardboard hanger shank. a

The bottom of the bag would then be closed and sealed by merely folding j the two half-flap portions I la-and l lb in an upward and rearward direction and pasting them to the outer side of the back panel 8. Thus, the bag is effectively sealed at top and bottom, and this is accomplished by sealing flaps which are all integral parts of the bag, thereby dispensing with the necessity of any separate sealing strips, etc.

In each of the foregoing instances in which I have referred to an adhesive coated surface, such as the surfaces I1 and I8, I havereference to the dry type of adhesive which is moistened by a sponge or wet cloth to make the adhesive unite to the other'surface of the bag.. It will be understood that in lieu of this dry type of adhesive, I may also employ a pressure-sensitive adhesive, or the sealing or fastening operation might be performed by stapling, heat sealing or in any other suitable manner.

While I have illustrated anddescribed what I regard to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, nevertheless it willbe understood that such is merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention.

I claim: I

l. A garment bag of the character described, comprising front and rear panels joined at their sides, one panel having an integral flap projecting beyond one end of said panels and having adhesive thereon, said flap having a slit therethrough extending centrally and longitudinally of said panels from the free edge of said flap, said flap having oppositely disposed arcuate slits therein spaced from and on opposite sides of said longitudinal slit, the portions of the bag adjacent said flap to either side of said arcuate slits being adapted to be folded on inclined lines to bring 'the portions of said flap on opposite sides of said arcuate slits into engagement with the other of said panels to close one end of said bag except for a central portion thereof forming an opening for the passage of the hook of a hanger, the portions of said flap between said central slit and each of said arcuate slits being adapted to be individually folded around the shank of the hanger and into engagement with said other of said panels to seal said one end of the bag around the shank of the hanger.

2. A garment bag of the character described, comprising front and rear panels joined at their sides, one panel having an integral flap projecting beyond one end of said panels and having adhesive thereon, said flap having a slit therethrough extending centrally and longitudinally of said panels from the free end of said fiap and terminating in an aperture adjacent said one panel, said flap having oppositely disposed arcuate slits therein spaced from and on opposite sides of said longitudinal slit, the portions of the bag adjacent said flap to either side of said arcuate slits being adapted to be folded on inclined lines to bring the portions of said flap on opposite sides of said arcuate slits into engagement with the other of said panels to close one end of the bag except for a central portion thereat their sides :one panel having an integral flap projecting beyond one end of said panels, the other panel having an integral snap projecting beyond 'thezother end aOf :said panels, said flaps 1.-

beingl each of :the same lw idthns said.-panels and having adhesive thereon, the :one flap integral with said :one :panel having slit therethrough .extendingucentrally and longitudinally of :said

panels irom'xthe :tree edge of said one flap and terminating in an aperture adjacent :said one panel, said one flap having oppositely disposed arcuate slits thereinspacedrfirom and on opposite sides of said longitudinal slit, said .rarcuate :slits extending vfrom the free edge of said one flap 1 land into said one :panel integral therewith, :the portions of the bag adjacent said @0118 =-flap to :either side 'ofzsaidzarcuate slits 'being adapted to 3126 folded ondnclinedilines to briinglthe' portions of said :one slap :on roppesite :sides of'zsaid .arcuate :slits into engagement with .said other panel to dose .-.one tendloi :the ibag except f'for :a vcentral portion :thereof forming an opening :for the peesage of the hook of a hanger, the portions of said one flap between said central slit and each of said zarouateislits being adapted toiled-individually folded around the {shank of .the hanger and .-:into engagement with :said :other panel with lone :portion overlapping :the other portion to sea-1 said one end 01 the fioag around the shank of :the hang-er, the shank of :the han er vtwine re ived in :said aperture the =.o.th. r floor-heme .adap ed :to hev olded over to en a ement-with isaidzone 11 31 61 to elose :the other end of the has A. 5A g rm n has of the nharacte described,

comprising iron qan ar panelsioin d' a their sides, one pan lhavine teer-alrfianprojac ine "bey d one end-of s i panel an having adha sive ther said fla harineia slit therethroilsh extendi1 g centrally n l ngitu in lly :o :sai ;panels ,from {the ,-fr e edge Qfs a d flap sai flap havin lat rally d sposed slits ther in sp c ,from and on opposite sides of :said longitudinal slit, the portions of the hag ad-jacent said; f la;p to either side of, -$fl d laterally di p s d-slimmeing adapted to Joe ,folded on inclinedlines to bring the portions of .said flap on opposite sides of said laterally disposedslitslinto fl lgafifi fin with the otherofsaid panels to ,close one end of said :ba'g except for a central @portion thereof forming an --op'ening for the passage :of the hook of a hanger,- the -portions of :said fiap between said central slit and each-of said filatera-lly {disposed slits :being adaptedto rbe individually-folded around the shankof :the hanger a-ndinto engage- :ment with said other of said panels to seal said :one :end :of the bag around the shank of the hanger.

5. A :ga-rment bag of the character described, -.comprising :front and rear panels joined interally at itheir sides one panelihaving an integral "flap projecting beyond one xend oi said @panels, the other :panel having an integral flap projecting beyond the other end of said ipanels, :said flaps being each/of "the same width as said lpane'lswand having adhesive thereon, the one flap linteg ral with :said one ipanel ha ving a slit 'theretlirough extending .centrally and longitudinally of said :panels from the .free edge of said one nap and terminatin in an aperture adjacent said one panel, said one "flap having oppositely disposed side slits therein spaced .trom and on opposite sides of said longitudinal slit, said side slits extending from :the free ledgelof said .one flap and into said i one "panel integral therewith, :the pm:- .;tions of the Ybag adjacent isa'idlone flapto either side of said side slits being adapted to be folded on inclined lines to bring the portions ofisaid one flap on opposite sides of saidlside slits .into engagement with said other "panel :to close one end oftheibag except foracentrahportion thereof vforming an opening for :the passage of :the hook of a hanger, the .portionsnf gsaid 'one'flap between said central-slitandea'chrof said side slits being adapted to be individually 1f01d6d around ":the shank of the :hanger :and into engagement with said 50151161 :panel with one portion ioyerlapping the other portion to v seal saidone end .-of the bag around the shank of the hanger, the ,shank :of {the hanger ,being -.re0eiv,ed,5in1said .zaperture, the other new being adapted :to :be afoldedlover into en a ement with said one ,panel to close the other end of the bag.

References Cited in the me {of this xpatent UNITED swarms m rnwrs 

